ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is set to reopen the trial of high profile politicians whose corruption cases had either been delayed or put in abeyance as a result of court injunctions.

A top management officer of the EFCC told Vanguard, yesterday, that the commission under the leadership of acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, was bent on reopening all the corruption cases involving top politicians, who were shielded by the court through perpetual injunctions that had temporarily tied the hands of the commission from prosecuting them.


Odili
Top on the list of those whose cases are to be reopened, is former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, who secured a perpetual injunction from a Federal judge barring the EFCC from investigating his eight-year tenure over alleged graft.

Justice Ibrahim Buba had granted a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from probing graft allegations its operatives levelled against the former governor.

The commission, however, filed an appeal against the ruling, which was described as strange by legal pundits. But the appeal has not made progress since it was instituted over four years ago.

However, the top EFCC operative vowed in an interview with Vanguard that all stumbling blocks to reopening the cases and similar ones would be removed by the Magu administration at EFCC with a view to bringing the former governor to book.

The top operative said that the new Criminal Justice Administration Act of 2015 has removed the stumbling blocks to prosecuting those who looted the nation’s treasury.

The senior management official of the commission said: “Let it be made clear that the EFCC will go after all cases that are deserving of investigation. There is nothing like perpetual injunctions anymore in our criminal administration justice code.

“We have a duty to investigate all cases since we are empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate all such corruption-related cases and that is what we are asked to do.

“We are empowered by Section 15 of the new Criminal Justice Administration Act to investigate all cases irrespective of injunctions. We cannot be stopped,” the official said.

The source confirmed that top officials in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who abused their office by fritting away huge national cash and assets would be summoned to clear the air on why they breached public trust.

Among those slated for questioning are former Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy in the last Administration, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some former officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who handled the disbursement of funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Asked when the officials would be summoned, the official said no date had yet been fixed, adding, “I will find out and get back to you.”

In the meantime, the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has established a Procurement Fraud Unit, PFU, to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement to Vanguard, last night, that Magu made the disclosure in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with leaders of a coalition of civil society organisations.

Uwujaren said that Magu expressed concern over the increasing rate of procurement fraud and told his guests that the PFU would contribute immensely to the anti-corruption battle when it became operational.

“I am so concerned about procurement fraud. I am thinking of establishing a unit dedicated to procurement fraud. When put in place, it will go a long way in checking corruption,” Magu said.

cc: lalasticlala
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/corruption-efcc-moves-against-odili-others/

Very good move. Let's kill corruption totally not a bloody nose again.


But I'm bothered about the safety of Magu and eventually the long term existence and efficiency of the commission. The institute should build a very strict internal system that will expose anyone conniving with corrupt official. Also the should be legislations that will make the commission to be autonomous.

Good!

Call it a move against the enemy, I don't care.

Call him quick

Yawa don gas

Expecting more in the net

Choi EFCC dey vex o.This is the only angle I give baba credits!

Nice one

Anyone who blame Buhari for corruption is definitely brain corrupt, if you do anyhow you go see yourself anyhow.... EFCC dey Para...

This is long over due. These heartless bunch of looters should have their days in court and even found guilty, prison.

jomoh:
Very good move. Let's kill corruption totally not a bloody nose again.

when you say lets kill corruption, i begin to wonder what you mean for the remaining 3 years left.

since this government came into power, its been corruption news all over with insignificant development. are we going to be fighting corruption throughout the stay of power?

if I consider your statement, then the future will be missing.


As if fighting corruption would solve the fact that firms are closing down each day? the dwindling economy, depreciation in naira value, abi the hike in fuel or the bad roads romancing our cars, or probably leaving the unemployed unattended.


I am sure this government is in the middle of a planned distraction,host by the host.

I just pray let our living don't be useless

Good move! There should be no "sacred-cow" in the fight against corruption.

Hmm. I believe the EFCC is now more active than it has ever been still it was established.

Let all those who have looted feel the consequences of their actions.

Prevho:
Call him quick

As in I really want to see that nigga in blue top with registration number

This is a welcome development. Odili lootery is legendary and only surpassed by Amaechi. Probing Odili will definitely nail Amaechi as he was Odili's looter-in-crime

At least one goat will blame Buhari and Witch-hunt for this move EFCC is making

"PERPETUAL INJUNCTION "WTF? ??So only Looters that loot in Million and Billion dollars are given Perpetual Injunction? ?Who created this rubbish?Nigerians have suffered. ......I am really loving this NEW Nigeria of accountability! !

Better move, it's long overdue jare. My Kogi state seriously needs their attention

Terry68:


when you say lets kill corruption, i begin to wonder what you mean for the remaining 3 years left.

since this government came into power, its been corruption news all over with insignificant development. are we going to be fighting corruption throughout the stay of power?

if I consider your statement, then the future will be missing.


As if fighting corruption would solve the fact that firms are closing down each day? the dwindling economy, depreciation in naira value, abi the hike in fuel or the bad roads romancing our cars, or probably leaving the unemployed unattended.


I am sure this government is in the middle of a planned distraction,host by the host.

I just pray let our living don't be useless

But you will agree with him that it is part of the problems bedevilling this country. And the Agency's job is to fight it to a logical end. Would you have prefered the former administration that was silent on corruption and made it an all-comers affair?
All the challenges we are facing that you mention, are still offshoot of corruption. Some cash was disbursed for development or implementation of policies and some people will pocket it. So what are we talking about?

The last time I checked, we have different government establishments and ministries given the onerous task to handle different aspects of our national issues and make appeciable impacts in the lives of the people. So you can't say its only corruption this administration has been fighting.
We should just pray that this administration succeeds in tackling every aspect of our national challenges.

If you ask me, I'll say that the new Administration of Criminal Justice Law signed 6 months ago is all that's really needed in the mean time, to fight corruption to a standstill. I hope the Attorney General will stupendously make use of it. Viva Nigeria!

Sanusi nko?

Terry68:


when you say lets kill corruption, i begin to wonder what you mean for the remaining 3 years left.

since this government came into power, its been corruption news all over with insignificant development. are we going to be fighting corruption throughout the stay of power?

if I consider your statement, then the future will be missing.


As if fighting corruption would solve the fact that firms are closing down each day? the dwindling economy, depreciation in naira value, abi the hike in fuel or the bad roads romancing our cars, or probably leaving the unemployed unattended.


I am sure this government is in the middle of a planned distraction,host by the host.

I just pray let our living don't be useless

How many times have you seen Buhari personally arrest anyone.

You should be able to pick out that there will always be media frenzy surrounding cases of corruption all over the world. When Martha Stewart was being tried for tax evasion, even CNN dedicated sometime to follow the story. When the corruption cases at FIFA broke out and even FIFA president and UEFA president were suspended did it stop UEFA from having the CL or UEFA league? Did it stop FIFA from hosting the under 17 world cup?

From your analysis it show you just joined the band wagon of the illiterate that keep shouting that the government was focusing too much on corruption.

Whereas you and your co-travellers on that visionless bus forgot the first few weeks that PMB travelled to neighbouring countries. Precisely Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Benin. Was that also for corruption.

Was his trip to the US for corruption?
Was his trip to india on trade relations for corruption?
Was his trip to the China-Africa trade summit also for corruption.
Was Ibe kachikwu, Kemi Adeosun and the rest appointed as Minister for corruption.

Oh I forgot you were also part of the train crying that he travels too much. The problem you people have it the same thing with PDP that you support. You fail to realise the extent of damage that has been done to the economy yet you want a miracle worker.

Wike recently praised Amaechi and FG for continuing the Rail project in rivers state is that corruption case.

Learn to have a mind of your own and not follow the band wagon. The present Administration is still following the killer blueprint/budget of the previous administration that had price of crude at $65 even when the price was $45 and still going down. Not until 2016 will they implement their own blueprint/budget Or do you expect them to throw out the previous budget?

When he went to commission the 25billion Agric loan in kebbi state where were you? Oh I forgot you were busy protesting the release of a terrorist.

..

End time corruption

Okk

Kk

Terry68:


when you say lets kill corruption, i begin to wonder what you mean for the remaining 3 years left.

since this government came into power, its been corruption news all over with insignificant development. are we going to be fighting corruption throughout the stay of power?

if I consider your statement, then the future will be missing.


As if fighting corruption would solve the fact that firms are closing down each day? the dwindling economy, depreciation in naira value, abi the hike in fuel or the bad roads romancing our cars, or probably leaving the unemployed unattended.


I am sure this government is in the middle of a planned distraction,host by the host.

I just pray let our living don't be useless

Are you always this dumb or you are just dumb this harmattan? There are no jobs, the economy is going down, no fuel, bad roads. Don't we have Ministers or is Buhari an economist, an engineer, a medical doctor and a magician to fix all things himself? There are Ministers and Heads of Parastatals. Buhari is not even the one arresting your thieving friends in PDP, it is the job of EFCC and the EFCC is doing its job.

Carry on carry on #NateReuss

This government is a big joke!
Power without wisdom is useless.
When you fight too many battles,u stretch ur resources so thin and end up creating too many enemies to the detriment of the ordinary citizens.
Corruption fights back even more determined than ever because they are now United and resolute in their hatred for you.
Most military men use brute force,only a few are wise(eg Babangida).
The way PMB and APC are going they will win the battle but not the war on the long run.
it's going to be a pyrrhic victory.

Peter Donaldtus Odili
Ur mates were busy collecting Billions na small N100m naim wan carry u go kirikiri so

Na dere wahala be that.m..niccurz have bera tinz to do.....
Efcc shld grow up

in oga bello's voice (its alright)